They're taking orders for them right now! So RUUUUNNN to your nearest Sprint kiosk operator if you've been waiting for one of these!

Check it out:

GemBlock & Blackberry News | GemBlock.com

Literally just got off the phone with 3 Sprint Reps:

1 & 2 who were in Kansas both said the release date was May 9. In fact, the first woman I spoke to was skimming her notes and said "That's odd, it says it should have been out today but it's not." She paused and asked a counterpart and got the May 9 date.

Woman #3 was in telesales and barely spoke english. She was more concerned about selling me an "upgrade" to anything out there that wasn't a Blackberry and told me the Curve would be out in mid-June.

Take it for what it's worth....

Samething with telesales when I called yesterday, just trying to sell me anything

But I did chat online a few hours ago and they said may 9th as the release.

Their call center is routed to the phillipines.... and I HATE it.. nothing against them, just that i think the customer service did go down dramatically partially because of that.

anyways, I just hope they release it before WES, if not, just have to wait when i get back...

How much for EXISTING Sprint customers? It appears that the $179 price is geared toward new customers with a 2-year contract. Will this phone be $599 since I am already with Sprint?!

May 9

Sprint’s BlackBerry 8330 finally available this Friday | The Boy Genius Report

You will have to commit to a new 2 year agreement for the $179 price. If you don't want to do that, you will be able to find it for a little cheaper on ebay and other sites than the $599 full retail.

I'm not sure if a new 2 year commitment to Sprint is a great idea.

Xboogie,

They now have upgrade pricing, they probably won't sell it to you for FULL price, like they used to do back in the past, but being that there are alot of cellphone users with a cellphone gadget addiction, they've had this upgrade phone feature for quite sometime.

When i got my 8830, they didn't charge me 599 like everyone else, but i did get it for about 280 , so we'll probably be looking anywhere between 279 and 249 for exisiting customers

go ahead and call them on Friday, and see what they quote you!

Did you call Telesales or retentions, when you got you 8830 for $280.00?

Actually I just went into a sprint store. After they checked on my account and contract, they said i was eligible. Telesales and CS can verify as well.

Pricing all depends on where you are within your contract.

And how much of a stink you put up. Threaten to leave Sprint and they'll ship you to retentions. There you can usually get the lower price.

Currently on the Sprint site to order!!!

Dang........finally it is on their website for purchase

Has anyone bought one yet? Is that picture on their web site correct with the titanium/silver color for the body?

Looks darker, but need better shots.

Sprint’s BlackBerry 8330 goes live | BlackBerry Cool

I contacted sales and complained about the pricing. I then threatened to cancel my contract and then they forwarded me to another level of CS. They then offered me the phone for $279 - which is $179 after the mail-in rebate! Wow, it shouldn't take all of that. I should have my new phone by tomorrow. Thanks for the advice!